Shower area safety drain cover

ABSTRACT

A drain cover is fabricated with a plurality of apertures in patterns of varying shapes. The cover is formed as a plate, suitable for installation proximate to a drain, and capable of bearing sufficient weight, the latter a function of the plate&#39;s size and intended use. The construction and arrangement of the plate, particularly the apertures, is such that the cover is operative to protect the drain from clogging, protect an individual near the drain from slips and falls, and still effectively and efficiently pass fluids.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of shower area drain covers and moreparticularly, to shower/bathing area safety drain covers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Facilities for people with special needs must accommodate a variety ofergonomic and safety requirements which are vital to their beneficialuse. Wet environments, in particular, must be adapted to a variety ofneeds, while promoting a higher degree of safety. Circumstances whichpresent mild or minimal risk to some individuals represent a higherlevel of risk to others.

In the field of shower or bathing facilities for special needs, avariety of appurtenances are well known, including grab bars, seats, lowlevel access ramps, appropriately placed controls, and non-slipflooring. The drain, similarly, plays an important role within a safeand effective facility.

Prior art drain covers, such as is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,387,commonly comprise a series of elongated slots defining a circle. Suchcovers suffer from a variety of deficiencies which have the potential toadversely affect those with special needs. In particular, thelongitudinal grooves are well adapted to trap wheelchair wheels.Further, they present, at least in a direction parallel to the grooves,a smooth linear surface upon which a foot, cane, or walker may slip.

It is additionally important to reduce the possibility of hair, digits,or other small objects being drawn into, or trapped within the coverapertures, particularly while rapid drainage is taking place. Coversrelating to these problems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,615,417 B1and U.S. Patent Application 2002/0078496 A1. The '496 applicationdiscloses a raised domed cover which disperses suction pressure througha series of openings provided with a backing mesh. The '417 patentdiscloses a raised flat cover that is substantially larger than anunderlying drain, wherein fluid enters at the side, and flows under thecover.

Neither reference, however, discloses a safety drain that is welladapted to special needs requirements. In particular, each requires araised portion, as well as an enlargement of the drain area, presentingdifficulties for people who may be unsteady on their feet, or who havereduced eyesight, as well as obstructing the passage of wheels orwalking assistance devices.

Thus, there exists a need for an improved safety drain cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a drain cover is fabricatedwith a plurality of apertures in patterns of varying shapes. In apreferred embodiment, the cover is formed as a plate, suitable forinstallation in a floor, and capable of bearing sufficient weight, thelatter a function of the plate's size and intended use.

The pattern of apertures presents a supporting structure which allowssufficient fluids to pass there through to support the highestanticipated fluid volume to be drained. Ideally, the apertures areelongated arcuate shapes. As such, they are resistant to clogging, andare easily cleaned. The edges of the apertures may be advantageouslyformed with an angular or curved bevel along their periphery,particularly on the upper face of the plate. This further facilitatescleaning, further reduces clogging, and forms a more comfortablesurface.

The apertures are spaced apart or separated from each other, in order toform a solid supporting structure. In a preferred embodiment, a patterncomprises five apertures of varying lengths, together operative to meetthe criteria described above.

The cover of the present invention may be formed from a variety ofmaterials of suitable strength and resistance to damage from moisture,mold, and other factors concomitant with covering drains. Preferredmaterials include metals, plastics, or ceramics, with stainless steel,vinyl, and ABS (aerylonitrile butadiene styrene) being particularlysuitable. Preferably, the material is of sufficient thickness to providethe requisite strength, yet is sufficiently thin to allow the cover tolie at substantially the same height as the floor when the cover isinstalled.

The cover may be fastened to either the drain, the supporting surface ofthe drain, such as the floor, or both, by any suitable means, includingadhesives or screws.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cover in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a cover in accordance with the presentinvention, illustrating beveled apertures; and,

FIG. 3 illustrates a series of four of an aperture pattern in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a drain cover in accordance with the invention,installed upon a gravity waste device;

FIG. 5 illustrates a drain cover in accordance with the invention, beinginstalled in a floor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, and with reference to thefigures, a shower area drain cover 10 is fabricated with a plurality ofa pattern of varying apertures 12 a-e, which are either unique, or areoriented differently, with respect to each other. For brevity, the term“shower area” is intended herein to mean a shower stall or room, openshower area, bathtub, or bathing area or room, generally. In a preferredembodiment, the cover is formed as a plate, suitable for installation ina floor, and capable of bearing sufficient weight, the latter a functionof the plate's size and intended use. Typically, the cover shape issquare, to best integrate with square shaped flooring members. However,the cover shape may be in the form of a rectangle, square, circle, oval,polygon, or other shape, as desired or required.

The pattern of apertures presents a supporting structure, without thesmooth extended linear surfaces inherent in a pattern of repeating,non-varying shapes, which allows sufficient fluids to pass there throughto support the highest anticipated volume. Ideally, the apertures areelongated arcuate shapes. As such, they are resistant to clogging, andare easily cleaned. With reference to FIG. 2. The edges of the aperturesmay be advantageously formed with an angular or curved bevel 14 alongtheir periphery, particularly on the upper face of the plate. Thisfurther facilitates cleaning, further reduces clogging, and forms a morecomfortable surface. The periphery of the plate may also be formed witha bevel 16.

Avoiding a pattern containing repeating shapes reduces elongated andsmooth extended surfaces, such as the gridlines of a grate, or thebridging members of concentric circles. A foot, cane, or walker mayslide along a smooth uninterrupted surface, and thus fail to provideadequate support. Moreover, extended linear apertures may operate totrap a wheelchair wheel, or alternatively, impede the directional changeof a wheel, hampering safe passage over the cover. In contrast, thepresent invention provides curved apertures which are presented invarying shapes, thus avoiding these potential pitfalls.

With reference to FIG. 3, in a preferred embodiment, the apertures arespaced apart or separated from each other, preferably by a distanceabout as wide as the width of the apertures, in order to form a solidsupporting structure. In a preferred embodiment, a pattern comprisesfive apertures 12a-e of varying lengths, together operative to meet thecriteria described above, while disposed in an area, in the embodimentshown, of about one fourth of the surface of a cover. Accordingly, aquartet 18 a-d of such a pattern is used in a complete square cover.Vortex formation is diminished by the shape of the apertures, as well asby placing each pattern away from the center of the cover.

The preferred embodiment shown in the figures has a distinct arrangementof apertures which best meets the criteria described herein.Specifically, there is a quartet of a preferred pattern which occupies asquare shaped cover. The patterns are spaced away from the center of theplate, and comprise arcuate shaped apertures. Each pattern includes twolonger bow shaped apertures extending from a corner towards the center,one bow closer to the corner, and the other closer to the center, whoseendpoints face each other, thus forming the shape of parentheses.Occupying the space within the parentheses shape is a sinuous shapedaperture. Adjacent to the parentheses shape is a curved aperture thatextends substantially along the edge of the cover. Finally, a tear dropshaped aperture is located between the aperture extending along theedge, and the adjacent bow of the parentheses.

The cover of the present invention may be formed from a variety ofmaterials of suitable strength and resistance to damage from moisture,mold, and other actors concomitant with covering drains. Preferredmaterials include metals, plastics, or ceramics, with stainless steel,vinyl, and ABS (acrylonitrite butadiene styrene) being particularlysuitable. Preferably, the material is of sufficient thickness to providethe requisite strength, yet is sufficiently thin to allow the cover tolie at substantially the same height as the floor when the cover isinstalled.

The cover may be fastened to either the drain, the supporting drainagesurface of the drain, such as the floor, or both, by any suitable means,including adhesives or screws 20. When screws are used, it is preferablethat the screw heads are countersunk, to maintain a flat and comfortableupper surface.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a cover 10 in accordance with theinvention is installed in a gravity waste structure 30. It should beunderstood that cover 10 may be used with a wide variety of drainrelated structures and devices. In this embodiment, cover 10 is pressfit, or frictionally engaged within a frame 32. In FIG. 5, the assemblyof FIG. 4 is shown being installed within a floor 42, wherein structuresbelow or at the floor level are not illustrated. A collar 34 permitsadjustment of the finished height of frame 32 and cover 10. Grout 38 orfunctionally similar sealant is applied, as by trowel 40, in order toseal the interstices between frame 32 and neighboring tiles 36.

Thus, there are many different features to the invention. It iscontemplated that these features may be used either alone or incombination. It should be understood by those familiar with the art thatnumerous modifications and equivalent features may be substitutedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scopeof the invention is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specificembodiments described, and that equivalent applications, modifications,and embodiments within the scope of the invention are contemplated.

1. A shower area drain cover comprising: a plate having a pattern ofvarying shapes of elongated arcuate apertures; wherein said patterncomprises at least five members, separated from each other; and, whereinsaid plate is operative to cover a drain, bear weight, and pass fluidsthrough said apertures.
 2. The drain cover of claim 1, wherein saidplate is fabricated from a material selected from a group consisting ofmetal, plastic, and ceramic.
 3. The drain cover of claim 1, wherein saidplate is fabricated from a material selected from a group consisting ofstainless steel, vinyl, and ABS.
 4. The drain cover of claim 1, whereinsaid apertures have a perimeter formed with a bevel.
 5. The drain coverof claim 4, wherein said drain cover has a lower face proximate saiddrain, and an upper face, and wherein said bevel is formed in said upperface.
 6. The drain cover of claim 1, wherein said drain is in a floor,and wherein said cover lies substantially at the same height as saidfloor when installed.
 7. The drain cover of claim 1, wherein saidapertures are separated from each other by a distance about as wide asthe width of said apertures.
 8. The drain cover of claim 7, wherein saidcover shape is selected from the group consisting of rectangle, square,oval, circle, polygon.
 9. A method of fabricating a shower area draincover, comprising the steps of: forming a plate; creating a pattern ofvarying shapes of elongated arcuate apertures in said plate, saidpattern comprising at least five members, separated from each other;and, wherein said plate is operative to cover a drain, bear weight, andpass fluids through said apertures.
 10. The method of claim 10, furthercomprising the step of fastening said cover in proximity to said drain,using a fastening method selected from the group consisting of screwing,adhering, frictionally engaging.
 11. The method of claim 1 0, whereinsaid plate is formed from a material selected from a group consisting ofmetal, plastic, and ceramic.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein saidapertures are created with a perimeter formed with a bevel.
 13. Themethod of claim 10, wherein said drain is in a floor, and wherein saidcover is formed to lie substantially at the same height as said floorwhen installed.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein said drain is in afloor, further comprising the step of fastening said cover proximate tosaid floor.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein said drain is in afloor, further comprising the step of fastening said cover in operativeengagement with said drain.
 16. The method of claim 10, wherein saidpattern of shapes are separated from each other by a distance about aswide as the width of said apertures.
 17. The method of claim 10, whereinsaid plate is formed in a shape selected from the group consisting ofrectangle, square, oval, circle, polygon.
 18. A shower area drain covercomprising: a plate, sized to cover a drain, including quartets of apattern of apertures spaced apart from the center of the plate, eachpattern including: five arcuate apertures, including a first bow shapedaperture extending substantially from a first corner of said platetowards the center of said plate; a second bow shaped aperture extendingsubstantially from said first corner towards the center of said plate.wherein said first and second apertures each have endpoints, and whereinsaid endpoints face each other; a third aperture forming a sinuousshape, extending between said first and second apertures; a fourthaperture adjacent to said second arcuate aperture, extendingsubstantially from said first corner and extending substantiallyparallel to an adjacent edge of said plate; a fifth aperture, disposedbetween said fourth aperture and said second aperture; and, means forsupporting said drain cover in operative engagement with a drain and adrainage surface; wherein said plate is operative to cover a drain, bearweight, and pass fluids through said apertures.
 19. The drain cover ofclaim 18, wherein said apertures have a perimeter formed with a bevel.20. The drain cover of claim 18, wherein said drain is in a floor, andwherein said cover lies substantially at the same height as said floorwhen installed.